Kids Lunches: Kid-friendly lunches For home or school
What will we serve day after day in our kids lunches?
We want something that provides variety and taste without breaking the bank or our strength.
I'm so happy when Friday rolls around, because I know I'll have a break from making my kids lunches. It's not that I don't want to serve and care for them, but the day after day production can become wearing. Let's also consider that we want to offer a change of pace, so the kids won't "roll their eyes" at the "same thing everyday."
The pressure to be "super mom!"
God forbid our early morning service of love finds its way into the trash -- uneaten!
My first strategy in preparing my kids lunches is to ask them what they like. This simple question will serve you well. Now, we're not talking a restaurant menu, but you can start with basic preferences.
Sometimes you get a full course selection from your kids, and other times you come up empty handed with:
"I don't care." "Anything." Or of course, a mother's favorite, "Nothing -- I don't want to eat."
Thanks kids, for the help! :)
My responses to those suggestions are: "Well, you have to eat something, so you might as well like it." OR "Then you're going to eat what I send you." With a little threat that if I find out they threw their lunch in the trash, I'm not gonna be pleased :)
One of my daughters never wanted to eat lunch, so I needed to get creative for her with her school lunches. Living in the Philippines poses some of the problem because she hates rice, which is a typical school lunch here. And, she's a bit of a picky eater.
You may have a child going through an "eating phase" like wanting to be a vegetarian or dieting. Hang in there -- it can be a struggle. Try to take it one day at a time and choose your battles.
This is the time to really find out what they are "willing" to eat for lunch and even have them prepare it, since it may be more involved. Some of the kids lunches listed below are vegetarian-friendly or can be adapted for the vegetarian :)
If your kids are young and at home, the world is your oyster.
You won't have to shuffle into the kitchen at 5 a.m. to get lunches going -- Enjoy!!
Or if you homeschool, you get to enjoy time at lunch with your
kids. Kudos! & Treasure the moments :)
The suggested kids lunches will suit your needs too.
You may choose to have the kids help make their lunches at night or get them up 15 minutes early in the
morning to help. I've always made my kids lunches for them... just because; no better reason than that :)
25 Kids lunches:
Each lunch listed below can be accompanied by veggie sticks, a piece of fruit, cheese stick, small bag of chips or crackers, and a drink of sorts -- whatever your child likes and that fits his appetite.
1. Sandwiches of all sorts -- a kids lunch champion! Use lunch meat; peanut butter & jelly; peanut butter & honey; cheese only; tuna salad; egg salad; fried egg and cheese sandwich. A fried bologna sandwich is oh, so good too! You may want to put frozen juice or a small ice pack in the kid's lunch if you send tuna or egg salad.
2. Bagels & cream cheese or make the above sandwiches in a toasted (or not toasted) bagel.
3. Egg McMuffin -- I make this for my kids lunch almost everyday, because they love it! I also use just plain whole wheat bread vs. english muffins if that's what I have on hand. An Egg Mac is good served in a bagel too. Just fry up some canadian bacon or ham in a little bit of butter; place on your bread. Put a slice of cheese on the ham -- velveeta, colby -- whatever your kids like. Fry up an egg; put more butter in the same pan you used to cook the ham and crack an egg in; let it sizzle a bit, and flip on the other side. My kids like the yolk broken and cooked solid -- you can leave the yolk a little runny if they prefer. Place this delicious bit of yummy goodness on the cheese and top with another slice of bread. One of my favorite kids lunches. **I like to crack my egg into a separate dish just in case it's rotten; then transfer into my pan.**
4. Grilled cheese sandwich.
5. Quesadilla with melted cheese. I would make this on the range instead of the microwave, since the microwave can make the tortilla hard. Melt butter in a pan; assemble your tortilla in this order -- tortilla, shredded cheese, tortilla -- place in the pan; brown both sides. You could also add a layer of refried beans to this for an extra kick of protein and flavor. A delicious school lunch!
6. Soup cup with crackers. My kids' school has hot water at the ready during lunch, so they only need to fill the cup with steaming water. If your school doesn't provide this, you can send a thermos with hot water for them to combine at lunch time. The water will stay warmer if you heat the thermos with hot water before you place the "real hot water" in it. Hope that makes sense. Essentially, you are "preheating" the thermos to ensure the water stays hot til lunch.
7. Spaghettio's (can) or Macaroni & cheese (box) -- Heat this up in the morning and put warm in "preheated" Thermos. (see #6)
8. I have also madeMolasses Bread
for my picky eater and sent that with her. You could send a couple slices spread with butter or cream cheese. Cream cheese or peanut butter is also good on
banana bread,
and a yummy school lunch.
9. A small container of cottage cheese -- again, my picky eater's choice.
10. Yogurt along with the items listed for accompaniments.
11. Tortillas rolled with peanut butter and raisins. You could put a variety of taste treats in this school lunch: meat, tuna, veggies, pickles, cream cheese and a dried fruit of choice; cranberries, apricots, blueberries or raisins.
12. Chili in a thermos or any other soup for that matter, and a piece of cornbread or crackers.
13. Banana(s) or apple(s) cut up with peanut butter for dipping. You may want to add some veggie sticks and some slices of lunch meat to round out this school lunch.
14. A crisp pear(s) cut up with slices of cheese. So gourmet! Add some extras like in #13.
15. Left overs -- whatever you have in your fridge that is still good and your children will eat as leftovers -- cold pizza falls in this category.
16. Hummus with pita bread. Or, pita bread stuffed with hummus and shredded vegetables. Send salad dressing on the side for dipping or pouring into pita sandwich at lunch time.
17. Ham & cheese omelette. Or add whatever your child prefers.
18. Lettuce salad with a variety of veggies; cottage cheese or garbanzo beans. You may have to send some items separately so not to soggy up the lettuce. Send salad dressing to be added at lunch time.
19. Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Toast the bread and line with mayo; place slices together and put in a baggie. Send bacon, lettuce and tomato in separate baggies or container to be assembled at lunch time.
20. Potstickers -- you can buy these in the freezer section of your grocery store. Follow package directions and make in the morning or the night before. Potstickers are delicious cold or hot once they're cooked. Send soy sauce along in tightly sealed container. Sounds so good, I want them right now. MOM! Pack my lunch please :)
21. An array of cheese, meats and crackers to assemble at lunch time.
22.Beef Stew
with crackers or corn bread -- you want to make this on the weekend and reheat in the morning, and send it off in a preheated Thermos. For my picky eater, I also sent
cornbread
alone with butter and honey in a separate container.
23. Hash browns & a fried egg -- you can cook (boil) the potatoes the night before, use store bought or left over potatoes; just cut in cubes and fry in a little bit of butter and oil in the morning; top it off with a fried egg. Send along ketchup if your child likes.
24. Fried rice & fried egg -- use left over rice or make fresh in the morning. Saute the rice in butter and oil; add steamed vegetables and/or toasted garlic. Top with a fried egg. Yummy! The most requested of our kids lunches. Don't forget to send a spoon :)
25. Chicken pot pie -- you will need to make this ahead of time on the weekend for weekday ease.
Use
homemade pie crust
or store-bought pie crust as the shell; roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick; cut into circles about 5 inches in diameter; place filling on half of the circle and close shut; pinching corners to stay closed.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown and done. Adjust the timing based on your oven's temperature.
Filling: 1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup; 1 or 2 cooked potatoes, diced; Steamed mixed vegetables (half of a small bag); About 1 cup of shredded cheese -- more if you like; Salt & pepper to taste; Milk to make desired consistency. Heat altogether in saucepan. You can alter this filling as you wish and to suit your kids tastes.
Hopefully this list will give variety to your kids lunches and give relief to the question, "What did you pack in my lunch?"
